Rose - Young @ Art
Rose is 98. She originally comes from Ireland, and remembers the 1916 uprising well because of the looting. Rose has a daughter who’s 72; two of her children have died. She has 16 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. She says the secret to a long life is that you must be kind. You can’t buy health or happiness so you have to work at it and be grateful for what you have.
“It means a lot to get out and meet people every Thursday. We’ve done all kinds of things, painting, silk screen, all kinds. They take out on outings. They come and pick you up and take you home, so there’s transport to your door.”
“I enjoy everything. The chats and the activity. The people are all kind. Kindness goes a long way. It’s very important to be kind.”
“We do laugh. People tell jokes. Well, I tell a lot of jokes. We have a laugh, sing a song sometimes. When there’s a birthday they buy a cake. They had a big cake for my 90th birthday, for my 94th and 95th they sang happy birthday.”
“They had a tea dance here twice – it was all pensioners. We enjoyed it very much. They had tapes playing and we got up and danced. They had all kinds of music, old time music. There was a man who was playing music all night. And at one point he got me up with him to dance.”
“The tea dance was very good. I like dancing a lot. I used to do it a lot; my mam would give me a penny to go on a Monday and my dad would give me a penny to go on a Friday. I can’t do it as much now because I have a bad knee and also I had a pacemaker put in when I was 93. 5 minutes dancing is enough now. The pacemaker slows me down but it’s done me good; given me another 4 years.”
“I’m a bit worried at the moment because of Moorfields Eye Hospital. I don’t have much sight left and I’m going completely blind. There’s an operation they could do that would save my sight, but it’s not available on the NHS. I do think I’ve paid taxes for 60 years in this country, my husband paid his taxes and my children too, you would think the NHS would help me keep my sight, help me stay independent.”
“I have got a home help. She does the hoovering. Otherwise I can look after myself and make all my own meals.” “The Centre fits in well with my weekly chores. There’s a nice man who comes to pick us up. I like coming. They take us on days out. We’ve been to the museum, to the London Eye, to Southend, the seaside. I go and see my son and daughter regularly, they live in Canvey Island.” “Lil, Lil and I all live on the same landing. We never see one another except on Thursdays [when the group meet].” “The tutors do everything they can for us.”
“It’s nice to meet people your own age. They’re kind. My brothers and sisters, there were 7 of us, we were taught to be kind. You can’t buy kindness and happiness, so you have to make your own.”
“What am I looking forward to at the moment? Well I’m looking forward to us being together, I hope we have long lives. I hope we’ll be together at Christmas and in the New Year, please God.”
“God’s good and the devil’s not a bad fella I always say. I don’t mind how long I live as long as I keep my brain going.”
Rose was interviewed by Susie Dye in December 2007
Young @ Art is generously supported by The City Bridge Trust.
